Keyr: Last Name and Heraldic Notes

Clerks wrote Keir in many ways, and Keyr is one that stuck. In origin, the name means “From Keir”.

Family crest and blazon

Heraldry is personal: arms associated with the Keir surname were borne by specific families, and sharing the name does not mean sharing the blazon.

A variant of Keir

Keyr writes “y” in place of the “i” found in Keir, a typical scribal difference. Spellings drifted because names were written down by ear in parish books, tax rolls and passenger lists.

For the full story, order the Keyr surname pack.